It was a proud moment for UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) Department of Architecture and Sustainable Design (DASD) students when they won a total of three awards at the 17th PAM Annual Architecture Student Works Exhibition 2023 (PAASWE 2023), held from 4 to 8 October 2023 at GF Centre Court, 1Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The team, which consisted of the core team members and the helpers, won second place at the PAM Sketching Competition 2023 and Consolation Prize (Top 10) at the PAM Best Booth Display Award 2023. They were supervised by LKC FES academics Mr Yong Song Zhe and Dr Lim Poh Im. Additionally, team leader Kennath Selvanesan also took home the PAM Best Presenter Award.

The theme of the exhibition this year was ‘Dancing Tower’. The word ‘Dancing’ in the theme indicates the method of revealing the architecture students’ works through cascading layering and another dynamic form. Meanwhile, the word ‘Tower’ represents the students’ higher aim to reach the sky.

Jacky Soo Li Heng, who won second place at the PAM Sketching Competition 2023, said, “This competition is a great platform for me to increase my sketching skill and improve it. I also made a good preparation and research before the competition so I could focus on my project attentively. So, when I won second place in the sketching competition, it definitely felt amazing For this win, I would like to express my gratitude to my family, friends and academics for their never-ending support towards me.”

Kennath said, “PAASWE is always a challenging one every year. This year it was far more challenging because the competition clashed with our final presentation and final examinations. However, with the relentless efforts and determination of the team, we were able to achieve a great result. The team has poured out, literally, their blood, sweat and tears, through the days and even nights, in order to complete this project. Though it was not the most glorious, we have learnt many lessons such as team management, time management, fabrication and even design. These lessons will prove to be beneficial for us in the future, in our current studies and career.”

Speaking of their project “Rhythm’s Oasis”, he enthused, “The booth’s steel framework was meticulously crafted in gold and bronze, symbolising a sun-drenched desert landscape. These hues radiate warmth, creating an inviting atmosphere. Turquoise polycarbonate sheets fill in the spaces, simulating an oasis of serene waters. This hue contrasts with the metal, invoking flexibility and change. Overall, the booth creates a sense of wonder, like an oasis in the desert.”

"Also, we would like to express our gratitude to the Department of Laboratory Management and Safety Administration Senior Lab Assistant, Encik Mohd Azhar bin Mohamad Saleh. Completing the project within the timeline was extremely challenging, yet Encik Azhar was willing to work overtime, and even on public holidays and weekends, to keep the workshop open for us to work continuously. He also guided us and gave us brilliant ideas that helped save time and effort. He taught us many workshop skills that otherwise we would not be capable of," he enthused.

The winning booth consisted of 49 DASD students, namely Chairperson Kennath Selvanesan, Soo Khai Thong, Soo Zhi Yi, Kong Zhi Shan, Song Ying Chuan, Ler Teck Ho, Ong Yan Chern, Cho Chi Kei, Chow Liang Cheng, Ong Yan Qi, Wong Ren Xin, Wong Cheok Shyang, Teh Xiaowei, Ho Ying Xuan, Yap Kah Zhen, Riduwansyah Teng, Soo Khee Cheng, Tan Rou Yi, Chang Ru Yuan, Chia Qi Feng, Chua Juan Xia, Esther Chong Yee Ying, Foo Ying En, Gan Zhen Yuan, Ho Chee Kin, Kek Mei Jun, Khaw Xin Yu, Khoo Ooi Yen, Lee Huan, Lee Shu En, Lee Yong Wei, Leong Wei Kent, Leong Ying Yi, Leong Zhi Jian, Lim Ming Han, Lim Zi Fei, Low Heng Shan, Nathaniel Giyl A. Tubong, Ng Sim Yee, Octavia Ho Che Hui, Ong Wei Wern Andre, Pang Shao Vun, Penny Chong Yoke Shuan, Sabrina Ling, Tan Mei Qi, Tee Shu Teng, Teew Zi Yao, Wong Jia Jia, and Wong Wei Ming.

PAASWE 2023 was organised by Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM), which is also known as the Malaysian Institute of Architects. It provided a platform for the students of 20 Malaysian public and private architecture education institutions to display their works in the public physically after a few years of virtual isolation.